Leave America: How To Get A Second Passport (For Free) And Live Abroad

Maybe it’s the 2020 presidential election right around the corner. Maybe it’s the surging coronavirus pandemic. Or maybe people are just feeling antsy for change. Whatever the case, Americans are not only dreaming about moving out of the United States, they’re actually leaving America for good. According to the Association of Americans Resident Overseas, Americans are fleeing at a higher rate than the U.S. is actually growing.

Affordable, warm, and a lot of fun, just two years in Peru could bag you a second passport. ©Steve LePoidevin/International Living. One of the easiest ways to leave America and live in another country is to get a second passport. Sure, you can pay big bucks to secure one (we’re talking $100,000 and up). But according to a new report from International Living, it’s possible to source a second passport quickly without buying a passport or inheriting one. “Second passports and residence in other countries have long appealed to Americans interested in greater flexibility in their travels and investments,” says Jeff D. Opdyke, editor of The Savvy Retiree, a publication of International Living. “These days, that interest is rising—sharply—with more people seeking an ‘escape plan’ should the U.S. no longer suit them in the years to come, whether that be for political, economic or social reasons.” According to Opdyke—a U.S. expat who’s lived in Prague now for nearly two years—it’s possible to gain citizenship-by-naturalization in two to four years in plenty of places around the world. (And guess what? It’s legal for Americans to hold dual citizenship.) The way to do it: “Move somewhere and gain citizenship—and a passport—via the naturalization process,” says Opdyke.

Does it sound too good (and easy) to be true? Opdyke says that it’s not as difficult as you might think. “While lots of countries require that you live within their borders for a decade or longer before you can apply for citizenship, several impose a much-shorter timeline,” he says. Tempted by the countries that are offering new digital nomad work visas? Opdyke says that it’s not as ideal. “Barbados and its new Welcome Visa allows remote workers to live and work on the island for a year. That’s great—but the price is $2,000 to $3,000 for the visa, depending on whether you’re going alone or with family,” he says. “Conversely, you could use a professional visa service in a place like Argentina or Czech Republic or Spain or Portugal (pretty much anywhere) and obtain a one-year, temporary residence visa and the price will be well under $1,000.” Another drawback to a remote working visa: You’re one and done. “Your year is up and you’re out of there,” says Opdyke. “With the others, you can renew your visa, usually for a two-year stint, and it will cost you nothing (or a minimal amount).” According to Opdyke, there are a number of countries where you can obtain citizenship-by-naturalization in five years. This includes (but isn’t limited to) places like Australia, Belize, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Ireland, Jamaica, Latvia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Panama, Singapore, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom and Uruguay. But if you don’t want to wait and have the process take that long, there are a handful of countries where it will take four years or less. Some of these countries are still closed to Americans due to Covid-19, but as soon as the travel restrictions lift, you can be ready to bolt. Here are seven places to consider.

Argentina Argentina is huge—second in size only to Brazil in South America, with a range of climates and geography, from subtropical jungle to arctic conditions in the south. You’ll find it all: modern cities, quaint villages. Another big part of the appeal? “If one’s life is denominated in dollars, their lifestyle in the land of tango will be pretty sweet,” says Opdyke. In just two years, you can apply for citizenship in Argentina and get a passport there, which gives you access to 170 countries without needing a visa. Argentina also allows U.S citizens to hold dual nationality.

Peru Peru is best known for Machu Picchu. But it’s also home to modern cities and colonial towns, pretty beaches and quiet farming areas. Plus, it’s very affordable. According to Opdyke, once you’ve been a resident for two years in Peru, a non-Peruvian can apply for citizenship. “That’s not hard,” says Opdyke. “With the correct documents folks can apply for Peruvian residence while visiting on a tourist visa. But it could take several months to complete the residence process.” Another requirement is that applicants need to be able to communicate in Spanish and must pass an exam about Peru’s history, culture and geography.

Ecuador Ecuador has been called the Land of Eternal Spring—and not only is the weather great in this country that’s about the same size as Colorado, you can live on a lot less. Plus, there are a number of options for locations, from beaches to cities, university towns to mountain villages. Citizenship is possible to achieve in just three years. “Ecuador demands three continuous years, and if there is an interruption of more than 90 days, folks have to start over,” says Opdyke.

Honduras Honduras is only two hours from the United States by air, but it’s far away in spirit—a place where life is much simpler. You can get citizenship in three years in Honduras, but there’s also a loophole: The requirement is shortened to two years if you are from a Spanish or Portuguese-speaking country.

Poland It takes just three years to get citizenship-by-naturalization in Poland and a big part of the appeal is that Poland is a European Union member, which means “this is the quickest path to an EU passport,” says Opdyke. Applicants here need to have proof of a stable source of income, such as Social Security income or a pension. Though there is one challenging requirement: You need to be able to speak Polish.

Paraguay Opdyke says that Paraguay is another good choice and only takes three years to obtain citizenship-by-naturalization. The application process is straightforward: “Live there for three years as an upstanding citizen,” says Opdyke.

Brazil From welcoming locals to year-round warm weather, Brazil has its appeals. And after four years of living in Brazil, speaking Portuguese and having no criminal record, you can live there permanently. “Very much like Paraguay in how easy it is,” says Opdyke. Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurabegleybloom/2020/10/29/leave-america-how-to-get-a-second-passport-for-free-and-live-abroad/